Extraordinarily Emersonian

Warmest wishes to the Emersonian community from an increasingly chilly Boston!

As we approach the end of the fall semester, I have been reflecting on what makes Emerson so extraordinary as the nation’s only college dedicated to communication and the arts. We are “one of one,” as our new Vice President for Enrollment Management, Matt Boyce, writes in this issue of Expression. There is no other college like ours.

Emersonians have made outsized contributions to every field and genre in the arts and communication. We are leading the way with creativity, innovation, and passion in almost every industry. As you read the stories in this issue, you have the opportunity to appreciate the incredible range and impact of our talented alumni.

Building stronger relationships with our alumni remains one of Emerson’s highest priorities, and we continue to make substantial progress in this work. One way we have done this is through a recent alumni survey. We share the top-line results of that survey in this issue and introduce you to Maria Vasallo ’92, our new leader for alumni engagement.

We also have been intentional this semester in building a stronger community across our campuses. This fall, we launched EmersonTogether, a college-wide initiative creating opportunities for community members to share ideas, identify and embrace collective values, and engage in respectful dialogue. I am encouraged by the suggestions the community has brought forward and the meaningful connections we have fostered.

Spring will bring more milestones as we lay the foundation for a strong and thriving Emerson through 2030, when we celebrate our sesquicentennial. Next semester, we will launch our new strategic plan and rebranding initiative. We will continue our vital work on alumni engagement and community building as we pursue the path forward, leveraging our many strengths.

I’m confident we will be successful because of you and the collective power of our innovative and inclusive community of artists, communicators, and professionals. Emerson, and Emersonians, are positively extraordinary!

Jay M. Bernhardt
President